Day 1 of KARNE NORTE: The Great North American Food Trip
Posted on September 24, 2012 by Spanky Hizon Enriquez
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Buhay Pinoy
10pm, Friday night, 14 September.
All my bags weren't packed yet, but everything that was supposed to fit in those two pieces of luggage were already divided into two 50-pound piles.
It started to rain softly, but I didn't pay it any undue attention... even though my worst fear regarding this trip to the US and Canada was getting stranded in Manila due to a habagat, as we experienced last August.
I thought that the gods wouldn't be THAT crazy, and allow such an insane series of events that would prevent me from reaching the NAIA. I live near the UST area, you see, in between the two city districts that I ironically have named Tamarind Bay and the Boardwalk, respectively: Sampaloc and Sta. Cruz, deep in the city of Manila.
Want to have a vacation out of the country? Here's an extensive directory of travel and tours company to get you started on the dream getaway abroad.
In my part of town, even a half-hour of continuous torrential rains will most likely cause this to happen on Espana, the major artery of Manila that I had no option but to cross whenever I had to go to any point of Pasay.
That Friday turned out to be the most harrowing sleepless night of my life. By 11pm, the gentle drizzle had turned into a steady pitter-patter on my roof.
By 12mn, 15 September, I had taken to stealing nervous glances at the night sky, which by then, had an intimidating pinkish shade, the unmistakable sign of clouds.
By 1am, I logged on to Twitter to monitor the PAGASA-DOST and MMDA alerts.
By 2am, a Yellow Alert had been raised.
By 3am, I started to panic when I read we were in Orange.
By 4am, inevitably, the status read Red. And the Boardwalk and Tamarind Bay nicknames were living up to their waterlogged status. My garage was already flooded.
I had visions of the one-week flood of the month just past, and being stranded near Rizal Avenue when I should have been gallivanting along Park Avenue.
By 5am, I haphazardly threw everything I had to bring into my two suitcases, thinking that I would hail a passing cab, jeep, or even a truck, and pay them a king’s ransom just to get me to the airport, come hell or high water.
By 6am, a depressing gray hue replaced the pinkish glow from the night clouds; I was resigned to spending the day in bed, and not on an airplane, depressed and going through the stages of DABDA....
… And then, a miracle.
By 7am, God smiled down on me. And what a bright smile it was.
By 12nn, the floods had subsided enough to allow me to cross Espana.
Who's afraid of floods? Not you, certainly, especially if you've followed these EYP tips on getting your homes flood-resistant.
By 1pm, I was celebrating my good fortune and impending departure with my friends at the Ultimate Taste Test in Rockwell, where I bought ensaimadas and pastillas to bring to my friends and family on the East Coast.
By 5pm, I was at the Don Bosco Church in Makati, on my knees, for a heartfelt prayer of thanks. Indeed, God is Good!
By 8pm, I was comfortably seated at the PAL terminal.
By 10pm, I learned that I had been upgraded to Business Class.
By 11pm, Happy Feet with a yard of legroom!
It was the worst of times that turned into the best of times!
By 11am of Sunday morning, 16 September, Manila time, it was 8pm of Saturday evening, 15 September in San Francisco.
I had gone back in time, and like Marty McFly, it changed everything for the better!
Juice Recommends:
Spanky's got an extensive foodie itinerary in the States and Canada! Follow his trail through The Daily Spank.
We'll fly you beyond the Philippine shores - join us at Juice Out of Town!
All my bags weren't packed yet, but everything that was supposed to fit in those two pieces of luggage were already divided into two 50-pound piles.
It started to rain softly, but I didn't pay it any undue attention... even though my worst fear regarding this trip to the US and Canada was getting stranded in Manila due to a habagat, as we experienced last August.
I thought that the gods wouldn't be THAT crazy, and allow such an insane series of events that would prevent me from reaching the NAIA. I live near the UST area, you see, in between the two city districts that I ironically have named Tamarind Bay and the Boardwalk, respectively: Sampaloc and Sta. Cruz, deep in the city of Manila.
Want to have a vacation out of the country? Here's an extensive directory of travel and tours company to get you started on the dream getaway abroad.
In my part of town, even a half-hour of continuous torrential rains will most likely cause this to happen on Espana, the major artery of Manila that I had no option but to cross whenever I had to go to any point of Pasay.
That Friday turned out to be the most harrowing sleepless night of my life. By 11pm, the gentle drizzle had turned into a steady pitter-patter on my roof.
By 12mn, 15 September, I had taken to stealing nervous glances at the night sky, which by then, had an intimidating pinkish shade, the unmistakable sign of clouds.
By 1am, I logged on to Twitter to monitor the PAGASA-DOST and MMDA alerts.
By 2am, a Yellow Alert had been raised.
By 3am, I started to panic when I read we were in Orange.
By 4am, inevitably, the status read Red. And the Boardwalk and Tamarind Bay nicknames were living up to their waterlogged status. My garage was already flooded.
I had visions of the one-week flood of the month just past, and being stranded near Rizal Avenue when I should have been gallivanting along Park Avenue.
By 5am, I haphazardly threw everything I had to bring into my two suitcases, thinking that I would hail a passing cab, jeep, or even a truck, and pay them a king’s ransom just to get me to the airport, come hell or high water.
By 6am, a depressing gray hue replaced the pinkish glow from the night clouds; I was resigned to spending the day in bed, and not on an airplane, depressed and going through the stages of DABDA....
… And then, a miracle.
By 7am, God smiled down on me. And what a bright smile it was.
By 12nn, the floods had subsided enough to allow me to cross Espana.
Who's afraid of floods? Not you, certainly, especially if you've followed these EYP tips on getting your homes flood-resistant.
By 1pm, I was celebrating my good fortune and impending departure with my friends at the Ultimate Taste Test in Rockwell, where I bought ensaimadas and pastillas to bring to my friends and family on the East Coast.
By 5pm, I was at the Don Bosco Church in Makati, on my knees, for a heartfelt prayer of thanks. Indeed, God is Good!
By 8pm, I was comfortably seated at the PAL terminal.
By 10pm, I learned that I had been upgraded to Business Class.
By 11pm, Happy Feet with a yard of legroom!
It was the worst of times that turned into the best of times!
By 11am of Sunday morning, 16 September, Manila time, it was 8pm of Saturday evening, 15 September in San Francisco.
I had gone back in time, and like Marty McFly, it changed everything for the better!
Juice Recommends:
Spanky's got an extensive foodie itinerary in the States and Canada! Follow his trail through The Daily Spank.
We'll fly you beyond the Philippine shores - join us at Juice Out of Town!
Juice Recommends:
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